Name: Easy Protein Banana Pudding Recipe
Ingredients: Ripe Bananas: 3-4 medium, ripe (the riper, the sweeter and more flavorful). You’ll want some for mashing into the pudding and some for slicing into layers.; Vanilla Protein Powder: 2 scoops (approximately 60g) of your favorite vanilla-flavored protein powder. Whey, casein, or a plant-based blend all work well. The flavor of your protein powder will significantly influence the final taste, so choose one you enjoy.; Plain Greek Yogurt: 1.5 cups (about 340g) of plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt. This adds creaminess, tang, and a significant protein boost. Full-fat or low-fat versions can be used.; Milk: 1/2 cup of milk. You can use dairy milk (whole, 2%, skim) or a plant-based alternative like almond, soy, oat, or cashew milk. Unsweetened varieties are recommended to control the overall sugar content.; Sugar-Free Vanilla Pudding Mix: 1 small box (around 1 oz or 28g) of instant sugar-free vanilla pudding mix. This helps to thicken the pudding and enhances the vanilla flavor without adding extra sugar.; Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to deepen the vanilla notes.; Sweetener (Optional): 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey, agave, or a sugar-free alternative like stevia or erythritol, to taste. This depends on the sweetness of your protein powder and bananas.; “Wafers” or Cookies: 1 box (approximately 10-12 oz or 280-340g) of your choice. Traditional: Nilla Wafers.; Healthier Options: Graham crackers (crushed), digestive biscuits, high-protein cookies (crumbled), or even a layer of toasted oats mixed with a little cinnamon for a deconstructed crumble feel. For this recipe, we’ll assume a healthier graham cracker or protein cookie option.; Ground Cinnamon (Optional Topping): A pinch for garnish.; Light Whipped Topping or Protein Fluff (Optional Garnish): For serving.

Ingredients

Ripe Bananas: 3-4 medium, ripe (the riper, the sweeter and more flavorful). You’ll want some for mashing into the pudding and some for slicing into layers.

Vanilla Protein Powder: 2 scoops (approximately 60g) of your favorite vanilla-flavored protein powder. Whey, casein, or a plant-based blend all work well. The flavor of your protein powder will significantly influence the final taste, so choose one you enjoy.

Plain Greek Yogurt: 1.5 cups (about 340g) of plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt. This adds creaminess, tang, and a significant protein boost. Full-fat or low-fat versions can be used.

Milk: 1/2 cup of milk. You can use dairy milk (whole, 2%, skim) or a plant-based alternative like almond, soy, oat, or cashew milk. Unsweetened varieties are recommended to control the overall sugar content.

Sugar-Free Vanilla Pudding Mix: 1 small box (around 1 oz or 28g) of instant sugar-free vanilla pudding mix. This helps to thicken the pudding and enhances the vanilla flavor without adding extra sugar.

Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to deepen the vanilla notes.

Sweetener (Optional): 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey, agave, or a sugar-free alternative like stevia or erythritol, to taste. This depends on the sweetness of your protein powder and bananas.

“Wafers” or Cookies: 1 box (approximately 10-12 oz or 280-340g) of your choice.
- Traditional: Nilla Wafers.
- Healthier Options: Graham crackers (crushed), digestive biscuits, high-protein cookies (crumbled), or even a layer of toasted oats mixed with a little cinnamon for a deconstructed crumble feel. For this recipe, we’ll assume a healthier graham cracker or protein cookie option.

Ground Cinnamon (Optional Topping): A pinch for garnish.

Light Whipped Topping or Protein Fluff (Optional Garnish): For serving.

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the Bananas:
- Peel 2 of the ripe bananas and place them in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mash them thoroughly with a fork until mostly smooth, but a few small lumps are perfectly fine.
- Slice the remaining 1-2 bananas into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Set aside for layering.

Mix the Pudding Base:
- To the bowl with the mashed bananas, add the plain Greek yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract.
- If using, add your preferred sweetener at this stage.
- Whisk these wet ingredients together until well combined and smooth.

Incorporate Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the vanilla protein powder and the sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix to the wet ingredients.
- Whisk continuously until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. The mixture will start to thicken. Taste and adjust sweetness if necessary.

Assemble the Pudding:
- Choose your serving dish. This can be a medium-sized trifle bowl, a square baking dish (8×8 inch), or individual parfait glasses or mason jars for pre-portioned servings.
- First Layer: Spread a thin layer of the protein pudding mixture at the bottom of your chosen dish.
- Second Layer: Arrange a single layer of your chosen “wafers” (graham crackers, protein cookies, etc.) over the pudding.
- Third Layer: Arrange a single layer of the sliced bananas over the wafers.
- Repeat Layers: Continue layering the pudding mixture, wafers, and sliced bananas, finishing with a final layer of the pudding mixture on top. Depending on the depth of your dish, you should get 2-3 full layers of each component.

Chill for Perfection:
- Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, pressing it gently against the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This chilling time is crucial! It allows the “wafers” to soften, the pudding to fully set, and the flavors to meld together beautifully.

Garnish and Serve:
- Just before serving, you can garnish the top of the pudding. Options include a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, a dollop of light whipped topping or homemade protein fluff, a few extra banana slices, or some crumbled wafers.

Nutrition

Serving Size: One Normal Portion
Calories: 250-350
Fat: 8-15g
Carbohydrates: 30-40g
Protein: 15-25g